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Red Tree Study

About

We specialize in Spanish courses, Academic programs and Film Internships in Colombia. We are proud of the excellent support we provide to our students. We run a great social and cultural activity program, and encourage our students to explore beautiful Colombia as much as possible!

We work with the best language schools in Colombia to bring you top quality Spanish programs at affordable prices, and offer Spanish courses from one week to one year.

We partner with Colombia's top universities to deliver academic summer courses, focusing on Peacebuilding and Community Health and Family Medicine. Our unique programs provide participants the chance to learn through practical site visits which include trips to the UN and Colombian congress.

Our Internship Program offers placements with top Latin American film companies. We cover a range of specialisms, from production, camera, sound, lighting, animation and distribution to post-production.

Get in touch to find out more!

Founded
2013

Reviews

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Louise
9/10
Yes, I recommend this program

An experience of a lifetime

Getting the chance to study peacebuilding in such an amazing city as Bogotá, was truly an experience of a lifetime!
The course was put together thoughtfully, and consisted of an interesting and well-balanced mix of excursions, talks and lectures. The thematic build up of the course gave a nuanced and detailed picture of the prolonged Colombian conflict, and the work that has been undertaken and continues to be undertaken in the quest to reach a sustainable peace. As students, we were introduced to a wide variety of different aspects of the peace building process under the guidance from extremely experienced and interesting lecturers. Every topic was equally intriguing and, even though the course was a bit intense at sometimes, I always looked forward to every activity in the curriculum.
The city of Bogotá also exceeded all of my expectations. It is a truly beautiful city, full of culture and history, with an amazingly friendly population. Furthermore, the staff of the course were very helpful, welcoming, inclusive and attentive- and they truly contributed to the amazing experience I've had.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
My flight tickets! Make sure you have a couple of extra days before/after the course in order to be able to explore a bit more of Colombia.
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Leonie
9/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Unforgettable experience

This three week course has been one of the most rewarding and dynamic courses i have participated in, and i urge anyone considering it to APPLY!!! What sets this course apart from the numerous other summer courses on offer is the jam-packed and wide ranging activities it has to offer.

To start, mornings were spent being taught by world renowned scholars from the University of Los Andes, covering the history of the conflict, the economics, the role of narcotics as well as the sociological impacts the conflict has had on the wider population. Therefore, as you can see, various disciplines are covered on this course and no previous knowledge is required. Although having studied Politics and International Relations for the past three years, i came into this with a very limited knowledge of the political landscape in Colombia, but rest assured you are in safe hands learning from experts in the field. You will also get a first hand experience of the conflict from ex FARC combatants and from visits to Government agencies which are helping forward the peace process. This part of the course was vital, and helps reinforce what we were learning about in the morning lectures and importantly helps bring home the very real suffering that has taken place.

Asides from the jam-packed academic schedule, the weekends are filled with fun and cultural activities should you wish to participate. From hiking up Colombia's highest waterfall to playing the popular sport of Tejo (which is definitely something you should experience at least once) there is always something going on. My favourite activity, by far, was the bike tour of Bogotá!

The support given by Red Tree, and in particular, by Alex, was second to none. They were extremely helpful, with everything from booking flights, to recommending the best places to eat and drink in Bogotá and this really makes the course unique.

Just apply and see for yourself.

What would you improve about this program?
The only suggestion i have would be to make this course a bit longer in duration, as the days can be quite busy. However, what is good is the amount of free time you have on the weekends, meaning there is ample time for exploring the wonderful sights of Colombia.
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Fern
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Such an amazing course

My trip to Bogota was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Firstly, the quality of the academic content of this course was simply second to none. It covered such a wide range of topics such as the history of the conflict in Colombia, narco-trafficking, politics and progressive ways of addressing the victims of conflict. We received lectures from world class academics from the Universidad de los Andes, many of whom played important roles in the peace process and subsequent transitional justice mechanisms. We also engaged in discussions and conversations with ex-combatants who had reintegrated back into society, and heard about their experiences from within the conflict. This meant that we were exposed to a range of perspectives on the conflict which really gave an in-depth, personal learning experience that is usually difficult to achieve in an academic program.
The Red Tree Study team did a phenomenal job of organising social activities during the evenings and weekends, such as a bike and food tour, graffiti tour, a waterfall hike and nights out. The coordinators were in no way overbearing and they also encouraged us to explore independently. The fact that many coordinators were from Bogota or elsewhere in Colombia meant that they could advise us on places to go or eat or even help us plan trips away at the weekend, which was so helpful. Even before I flew to Bogota the Red Tree Study Team, particularly Alex, were so organised and helpful with everything from booking flights, to obtaining additional funding from my university and other sources.
I honestly cannot recommend this program enough!

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Joseph
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Fantastic experience, would recommend every second

The lectures are incredibly humbling experience that give a fantastic insight into the history of Colombia and the conflict is has experienced. With topics such as the economic factors that have caused and elongated the war, the narcotics issue and illegal mining that have helped fund the war and the stages of the peace process that have got us where we are today. All were taught by incredibly insightful and intelligent lecturers who had honed their knowledge of their subject over years of study
There were also incredible guest lectures from such people as former combatants that told humbling and powerful speeches about their experience that moved everyone in the room as they spoke.
As well as this we made many onsite visits including the UN where we discussed their role in the peace process, the JEP where we learnt about the institutional processes in regards to transition to peace and how a nation needs to get those who have been affected from the war on both sides.
Aside from these, we had many curricular activities that gave a fantastically rounded experience of Bogota leaving me with a love of the city and desire to go back as soon as possible!

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I would have loved to have seen more of the country as I was there. We had free weekends to do so but my budget was rather tight
moi
Juliette
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program

The best decision I've ever made

The course was so engaging and fascinating - There were lectures covering so many different angles of the conflict and peace-building such as its impact on children, the role of women in the armed conflict and transitional justice, the FARC reincorporation process, drug policy throughout the conflict and historic memory building. It was incredibly enriching to be taught by experts in their field. We spoke to Presidential candidates, ex-guerrilla members and social and human rights leaders who were at the forefront of Peace building efforts. It was intense and at times very moving but I've never learnt so much nor changed the way I think in such a short space of time.

The field visits reinforced what we had learnt in class and allowed us to see and learn about the conflict in a different way for example visits to the Centre for Memory Peace and Reconciliation as well as photo exhibitions brought the conflict down to a human level as I considered the millions of different experiences people had and the scale of the suffering that has happened and is still happening.

The Red Tree study team living with us were supportive made us feel very welcome the moment we arrived and the social activities were so fun! There were cycling tours and salsa lessons, nights out and hikes as well as hot chocolate and cheese movie nights. I have made so many friends and happy memories.

I'm so grateful for everything I have learnt as it has reinforced my decision to study Politics and motivated me to further study Peace-building and live in Colombia for my year abroad. I understand how Peace and forgiveness is an individual as well as collective process and how powerful it can be to work from the bottom upwards.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
Aguapanela - a very confusing desert. Chunks of cheese in a drink made of sugarcane. I'm yet to be convinced! Sancocho was my favourite dish - a hearty stew generally containing meat, plantains, potatoes, corn, and avocado.

Programs

Displaying 1 - 5 of 5

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you choose this program?

Early last year, I realized I was interested in studying abroad. However, sorting through my school's options was quite intimidating. I knew that I wanted to try something new, but I didn't know enough to narrow it down to a country or even a region.

One day, I was waiting for a meeting with my Dean, and I noticed a Red Tree flier. It read something like "Film Internships in Colombia." Though I hadn't thought of internships specifically, seeing it on paper made me realize it suited me perfectly.

Around October, I sent in my application, and I was accepted shortly after. The entire process, I was astounded by the organization and communication. Other programs seemed less personal than the CommonApp website, and so I really appreciated the faces that came along with Red Tree. I decided before winter break to confirm my acceptance, because I wanted to solidify my summer plans before Spring to avoid the stress of applications.

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

The single biggest thing Red Tree provided me with was an array of film companies to choose from as far as internships go. Other abroad services I considered promised "an internship" but scantly provided specifics beyond that.

Information on the companies Red Tree works with was easily accessible and helped me settle on a company that fit my specifications. Aside from internship placement, Red Tree coordinated my housing in Colombia. I stayed in a large high rise near La Candelaria (a really great location). My room included breakfast every morning and a daily cleaning service. Additionally, Red Tree promised two weekly social events. This included Salsa classes, cooking classes, unique restaurant experiences, and even a few weekend trips to other cities in Colombia.

I really enjoyed the program. Red Tree was also unobtrusive; if I didn't feel like attending a program, there was never any pressure. I found myself hanging out with the coordinators even out of these events, and I found them to be a great support system.

I don't know if this is specific to Red Tree, but I was also living with other students in the program interested in the same things as me. I found the prospect of making friends in a foreign country daunting, but Red Tree made it easy as I was surrounded by people like me. I can't stress enough how helpful this was. The only things I can think of that Red Tree didn't provide was my travel to and from Colombia and my meals aside from breakfast.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

I would emphasize that the more you ask from your internship, the more you will likely get. In my past internships, I've always found that companies have an infinite pile of paperwork to lop onto interns, but during my work in Colombia, I realized that when I clearly outlined my desires going in, I was able to spend all of my time doing things I wanted to do.

Knowing specifically what you'd like to do is really important. For instance, I said I was interested in working in post-production. My company not only set me up to work with their editing department, but I ended up being the Assistant Editor on a documentary that's airing on Colombia's biggest network. That far exceeded my expectations! Even if you don't know what you want to do with your whole career, asking for something specific from your internship will help you figure it out.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

Most weekdays were fairly similar. I would wake up, get ready, and go to my internship. During my internship, I'd eat with my co-workers most days – which was really great. I'd get home in the evening, and try to organize group dinners with other people from my program. On some evenings, we would have movie nights; on others, we would go out to a bar or club.

There was such a variety of stuff to do that I really did end up trying a lot. Given that I was abroad, I tried to get the most out of my weekends. I tried to do the most highly recommended things from Trip Advisor on my weekends, and I found some awesome things with my friends doing this. There were tons of cool markets, beautiful hikes, and awesome restaurants to try when I started digging. The length of the program also allowed me breathing room, too, when I needed it.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

I think that my biggest fear was how a foreign language would affect my daily life. During my interview, I was open and honest about my level of Spanish, and I was placed into a company accordingly. I was told I didn't really need to speak Spanish, and my friends who didn't speak much seemed to corroborate this. I spoke more Spanish than I originally realized, and I found myself learning more and more everyday. In general, people in Colombia were extremely friendly and patient when I was searching for a word.

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Alex Jones

Job Title
Director
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What is your favorite travel memory?

It's really hard to pick a top moment but I think that my first visit to Tayrona National Park on the Caribbean coast of Colombia is definitely one of the best! Tayrona has some of the world's most beautiful beaches- white sand edges with palm trees and jungle. There are no hotels in Tayrona, and you'll probably end up renting a hammock to sleep in, but they're surprisingly comfortable. If you're feeling energetic, them you can walk from the beach through the jungle-covered hills to the pre-historic ruins at Pueblito and I remember how magical and peaceful they are!

Which destination is most underrated? Conversely, which is most overrated?

Sometimes students overlook Bogota when considering where to visit in Colombia, and can often be put off by tales of colder weather and heavy rain! But the city has so much to offer, and the weather isn't that bad! It has fantastic museums, many of which are free to visit - the Gold Museum is a great starting place for visitors to learn about Colombia and its beautiful exhibitions are world-class. Bogota pioneered the Ciclovia, where huge parts of the city are closed to traffic every Sunday morning, and cyclists, runners, rollerbladers and walkers share the streets with fruit sellers and bike mechanics. You can travel for miles and its a fantastic way to explore the city, especially if you hire a bike. Bogota has great nightlife- whether you are interested in sampling local cuisine or salsa dancing. And it's a really friendly city - I'd definitely recommend a visit!

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

Many of our students who enrol on Spanish courses with Red Tree Study follow their time as a student with travel around Colombia, and it is always great to hear how much enjoyment they have gained from putting their new language skills into practice as they explore the country. From the point of view of our Film Internship Program, we were delighted to hear that one of our Film Interns had been given a paid role with one of the participating Film companies in their US office once after they had completed the program, and has continued to use and develop the production skills she learnt with us in Colombia back home!

What unique qualities does your company possess?

At Red Tree Study, we focus on programs in Colombia, which means that our local knowledge is excellent. We make sure that our team has visited every school or company that we work with, so that we give accurate and informed advice to our customers. We believe in a friendly approach, and keep in touch with our students throughout their time in Colombia so that they can get the most out of their time in this beautiful country. All of our team members have spent time living and working overseas, so we know the small things that make study abroad experiences even better. We are passionate about Colombia and are sure that anyone who enrols with Red Tree Study will be too!

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

It's so important to listen to the needs and expectations of our students, and make sure that they have all the information that they need to make an informed decision about their study abroad options. Studying overseas is a significant investment of time and money, and its crucial to make sure that people are being given the best range of options. We also make sure that we are easily available to help with any questions or guidance before departure, as well as once they are in Colombia, so that they can really enjoy their time abroad.